South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has lost its 30-year grip on an outright majority in parliament, according to official results announced on Sunday.
The ANC secured only 159 seats in the 400-seat National Assembly, garnering 40 per cent of the vote.
The centre-right Democratic Alliance followed with 87 seats, amounting to 22 per cent of the vote.
In a surprising third place was the newly-formed uMkonto weSizwe party, led by former President Jacob Zuma, which captured 14.59 per cent of the votes and 58 seats, according to AFP.
President Cyril Ramaphosa and leaders from most rival parties attended the results announcement, except for Zuma, who denounced the election as rigged and refused to participate.
MK spokesman Nhlamulo Ndhlela stated that Zuma’s attendance would have been “tantamount to endorsing an illegal declaration.”
Ramaphosa acknowledged the election outcome, emphasising the importance of respecting the electorate’s decision.
Our people have spoken, whether we like it or not, they have spoken,” he said. “As the leaders of political parties, as all those who occupy positions of responsibility in society, we have heard the voices of our people and we must respect their wishes.”
DA leader John Steenhuisen signaled his readiness to negotiate a coalition government with the ANC and other parties, aiming to prevent Zuma’s potential return to power.
“We must protect South Africa from a return by Zuma to government,” he stated.
According to AP, South African opposition parties were united in their call for change in the country of 62 million, which is Africa’s most developed yet one of the most unequal.
Nearly 28 million South Africans registered to vote, with turnout expected to be around 60 percent, according to the electoral commission.
Voters queued deep into the cold winter night, with some casting ballots as late as 3 a.m. due to delays at voting stations caused by electricity outages.
The election results marked a significant shift in South Africa’s political landscape, setting the stage for coalition governance for the first time since the end of apartheid.
